National color raw owl

As the saying goes, troublesome people come out of poor mountains and bad waters. Although Hujin is poor and bad waters, there were not many disturbances before. However, in the case of rapid increase in taxes and corvees, there are still many places where people rioted.

Of course Mei Long knew the truth that a single spark can start a prairie fire, let alone in this chaotic situation?

To ensure the safety of Hujin, only one army can be maintained, and the only way to maintain the army is to increase taxes, which will naturally cause turmoil among the people, and the turmoil of the people can only be suppressed by mobilizing troops.

Mei Long could be said to be in a state of desperation, but Xuanyuan Shao came to Hujin with hundreds of guards at such a time.

Mei Long naturally knew that Xuanyuan Shao was the emperor's confidant, and there were hundreds of guards, who were also the top soldiers of the empire. Naturally, the arrangements for these people could not be sloppy, and they could only add another expense, to feed these people well. Drink to serve temporarily.

If Mei Long could still hold on in this situation, news came from the front that Wen Pu led the remnants to retreat from Yanshan to Hujin, which made Mei Long gasp.

His first reaction was not that his power in Hujin would be weakened, but how could he support the thousands of Qin troops who had retreated?

And the news that came was very clear that a large number of people under Wen Pu's command collapsed, and the remaining people were all the Royal Guards.

The Royal Guards who arrived earlier were serving delicious food and drinks, but now a large number of them are coming, so naturally they can't treat each other more favorably.

Mei Long knew very well in his heart that the Hujin army was barely able to eat enough every day, and it was not enough to eat, let alone eat well. If it was like this, there would not be too much trouble, but If the thousands of guards eat and drink well, not only will Hujin have to bear a huge burden on money and food, but it will also have a great impact on the morale of the Hujin army.

There were not a few refugees fleeing from Hexi to Hujin Road, which added to Hujin's burden. Now that the guards came, Meilong was even more upset.

He just ordered a county in the north of Hujin to temporarily receive the group of Qin soldiers led by Wen Pu, and did not let Wen Pu's soldiers continue to come south.

The excuse is naturally that the soldiers of the Qin soldiers worked hard on the way, and they temporarily rested there.

However, if a county wants to supply thousands of Qin troops all the time, even if it has enough heart, it still has insufficient power. They sent people to report continuously, hoping that Meilong can make other arrangements. Even if they really want to keep Qin troops there temporarily, Appropriate food and grass.

Mei Long agreed, but did not take any real action.

He now deeply understands what it means to be in dire straits, and now let's not think about being surrounded by wolves, but there are already many internal problems in Hujin Road, and the problem facing Qin Jun is extremely difficult.

The two or three thousand soldiers and horses under Wen Pu's command are not many, but to Mei Long, they are not many. After all, these soldiers and horses are all extremely elite royal guards, both in terms of equipment and combat effectiveness. Above the Hujin Army, among the tens of thousands of troops recruited by his own men, there are only two to 3000 people who have real combat experience. Even if all the soldiers and horses of Hujin Road are assembled, it may not be the retreating guards adversary.

Naturally, he saw clearly the doorway. Before Wen Pu arrived at Zhengcheng, the prefecture of Hujin, Xuanyuan Shao was still weak, and he had the tendency to rely on others, but even so, Xuanyuan Shao asked Mei Long many times to continue recruiting. Grain, hoarding soldiers and horses, waiting for the arrival of Dingwu, and preparing to restore the country based on Hujin. If Wenpu's thousands of soldiers and horses arrive, Xuanyuanshao will have confidence, and I am afraid that the way of Hujin will not be up to him. Calculate.

After a few days, Mei Long's hair turned gray a lot.

"Report to Governor General, Master Wei, please see me!" Just when Mei Long was feeling depressed, Wei Fan, the head of the Department of Hujin Household Department, came to ask for an audience.

Being able to take charge of the money and food in Hujin is naturally Mei Long's capable confidant.

Wei Fan is over fifty years old and looks mature and prudent. When he saw Mei Long with a troubled face, he sighed softly: "I didn't want to come here to disturb Mei Du, but...hey, Mei Du, the guards want winter clothes I don't know if Mei Du knows about it?"

"Winter clothes?" Molong frowned.

Wei Fan explained: "Just now Commander Xuanyuan sent someone to the Department of Household Affairs to order his subordinates to prepare winter clothes as soon as possible. He said that General Wen's troops will arrive in Zhengcheng in a short while. Before they arrive, all winter clothes must be ready."

"He really is Commander Xuanyuan who loves soldiers like a son." Mei Long stroked his beard and said, "He didn't send anyone to inform me."

Wei Fan smiled and said: "Perhaps Commander Xuanyuan thinks it's a trivial matter, and it would be good for someone to tell me the Department of Household Affairs, but...!" Shaking his head and smiling bitterly, "Mr. Thousands of winter clothes, I really can’t do anything about it. Our Hujin army doesn’t have enough winter clothes, so we’re still making do with it. If we could get these thousands of winter clothes, wouldn’t the officials have allocated them to our own troops long ago?”

Mei Long's face was indifferent, and he didn't speak.

"Mei Du, look at this...!"

"Don't worry about it." Mei Long said lightly, "Don't Xuanyuanshao not know about the situation in Hujin? Wuping Mansion fell, and there were a lot of mouths to eat, but they didn't bring farts. How can we still steal it?" ?”

Wei Fan hurriedly said: "But...if the time comes, if you can't get the winter clothes, with Xuanyuan's character as the commander, I'm afraid...hey, it's fine to cut off the head of the subordinate, but I'm afraid it will lead to death. Involve Mei Du."

"Boss Wei, don't beat around the bush, I understand what you mean." Mei Long glanced at Wei Fan, "You think those people are not pleasing to the eye, and you want Ben Du and Xuanyuan Shao to tear themselves apart?"

Wei Fan hurriedly said: "I'm an official...I don't dare to."

"There is nothing to dare." Mei Long said: "We have been old brothers for many years, in front of me, you don't have to hide your eyes, say what you have to say, just have a good time."

Wei Fan sighed, and said: "Mei Du, I don't care about Xuanyuan Shao's group. They are only more than 100 people in total. Even if there are big fish and meat for offerings every day, it's okay to squeeze us here." It's hard to deal with, but... according to what it means, Commander Xuanyuan is planning to let Wenpu's thousands of soldiers and horses also come to Zhengcheng. "

Mei Long frowned and said, "At the beginning, the Holy Majesty asked me to recruit soldiers and horses in Hujin, I thought that the imperial court would send some money and food, but I didn't get a penny from the imperial court, but instead wanted to take the money and food from Hujin and go to Hexi. Now there are thousands of soldiers and horses retreating from Hexi, and the governor is worried about how to solve the problem of food and drink for these thousands of troops. Master Wei, the governor is going to ask you for advice. Now it seems that even you There is no other way.”

Wei Fan smiled wryly and said: "Others don't know, but Mei Du knows very well that our Hujin Guancang has never had grain in stock. To put it bluntly, we used to transfer food and clothes from other places. How much is it?" We can still barely deal with it. Now we have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses to support. As the saying goes, when the horn is sounded, there will be ten thousand taels of gold. .Mei Du, to put it bluntly, what we want in Hujin is nothing. It is clear and clear. Since the founding of the country, we have never raised so many soldiers and horses. If... hey, if we know that raising soldiers costs so much This move, the lower officials...the lower officials should have tried their best to stop Mei Du from recruiting troops."

"The rebels from Hebei are eyeing them like a tiger. If you don't raise soldiers, why don't you just watch them kill you?" Mei Long said angrily.

Wei Fan said: "That's the way it is said, but what can we do even if we raise soldiers? Those thieves in Hebei raided houses and robbed houses, and robbed them if they were short of food or money. We... we are short of food and money, where can we get them?" What's more...we have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in our hands. If King Qingtian attacks, they can really resist? Now that the Hexi side is occupied by the Northwest Army again, who knows...hey, who I wonder if they will take the opportunity to go south again...!" His face was distressed.

Mei Long clenched his fists, as if he was about to get angry, but the anger quickly disappeared on his face, and he sighed helplessly: "It's only a while, you can't sit still."

"Mei Du, according to my opinion, we must never let Wenpu's men come to Zhengcheng." Wei Fan hesitated for a moment, his expression became resolute, "It's fine if they don't come, if they do come, I'm afraid there will be big trouble. "

"Big chaos?" Mei Long frowned, "What do you mean?"

Wei Fan sneered and said: "Mei Du, most of Wen Pu's subordinates are guards. These people have eyes on the top of their heads. For the hundreds of people who are currently in Zhengcheng, we have to serve them like grandpas. If What should we do if Wenpu and his gang come again? If the waiters are poor, those people will definitely cause trouble, but if we want to serve well, we don’t have that ability. Even if we have that ability, after the Hujin army knew the truth, Do you think they can be willing?"

Mei Long sighed, and said: "I don't know what you said, but Xuanyuan Shao has said twice and three times that Wen Pu should lead the troops to Zhengcheng to rest as soon as possible, and said that this is the most important thing for the Holy One." The Guards are the foundation of the restoration of the country, I have delayed it for a long time, but I can't drag it on like this forever."

"If there is an explanation, there is another one." Wei Fan laughed and said, "Aren't these guards all brave and good at fighting? Isn't there bandits making trouble in Hujin now? Bandits? Since they all eat food from Hujin, and the Hujin army is in the south to low-level Hebei bandits, the guards can suppress the bandits in Hujin, so there is no need to rush to Zhengcheng."

Mei Long's eyes lit up, and he said: "That's not a bad idea, the Guards suppress the bandits...!" Before he finished speaking, he heard a voice from outside: "Cavalry Governor Mei, Commander Xuanyuan is asking to see... ...!"

Before Mei Long got up, she heard footsteps outside, and then a person was already standing outside the door, but she didn't enter the door immediately.

Mei Long stood up and stepped forward, only to see that the man was wearing armor but no helmet, with fluttering white hair, and was carrying a longbow. He was stern and straight, it was Xuanyuan Shao.

"Commander Xuanyuan, why are you here?" Mei Long cupped his hands with a smile, before finishing speaking, Xuanyuan Shao had already asked: "Master Mei, can you enter the house?" While speaking, he glanced at Wei Fan behind Mei Long .

"Please hurry up, come, let's serve tea!" Mei Long invited Xuanyuan Shao in, "Commander Xuanyuan, please sit down first!"

"You don't need to sit down." Xuanyuan Shao said: "Master Mei, I came here to tell you that I have already sent someone to see Wen Pu and told him to leave for Zhengcheng. In order to avoid misunderstanding, Mr. Mei also hastened to send someone Notify the checkpoints along the way and let them see Wenpu's troops to let them go immediately, so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings between the two sides."

Both Mei Long and Wei Fan changed their colors slightly, Mei Long's smiling face had already sunk, "Commander Xuanyuan, you mean, you are ready to transfer them to Zhengcheng?"

Xuanyuan Shao's expression was stern, cold and arrogant, and he said indifferently: "That's right, does Master Mei have any opinions?"

"The governor said that General Wen suddenly came with thousands of soldiers, and Zheng Cheng naturally needs to make some arrangements." Mei Long frowned and said, "At least the camp of the garrison must be properly arranged, otherwise, after General Wen arrives, Could it be that the sky is the seat of the earth? There is always a preparation for eating and drinking, is Commander Xuanyuan too impatient?"

"But Xuanyuan didn't see Master Mei making the arrangements." Xuanyuan Shao said lightly: "If the Holy Majesty comes to Zhengcheng and doesn't see the imperial guards, then the Holy Majesty will be furious. I don't know if it is Master Mei who is responsible for it or me. Xuanyuan Shao is in charge?"

"This... Commander Xuanyuan, don't be impatient." Mei Long forced a smile: "Actually, I am going to discuss with Commander Xuanyuan about General Wen's side. Commander Xuanyuan, the main force of the Hujin Army is now stationed in the south. But mobs have rioted in many places in Hujin, I wonder if we can let General Wen's soldiers go first...!"

"You want the Guards to wipe out the bandits?" Xuanyuan Shao frowned and said with a sneer, "Master Mei, when did the Guards fall to this level?"

Mei Long also sneered and said: "Commander Xuanyuan, whether it is the Guards or the Hujin Army, they are all soldiers of the Qin Dynasty, and the rebellious mobs are all rebels. Is there a distinction between high and low in suppressing bandits? A head shorter than the Guards?"

Xuanyuan Shao said: "Lord Mei, I'm afraid that Xuanyuan Shao didn't make it clear to you. The guard army is the cornerstone of the Holy Majesty's restoration of the country. In the future, the revival of the Great Qin will rely heavily on the guard army. A good sword must be used on the blade. If the guards go to wipe out the bandits, I am afraid that even the Holy Majesty will not agree."

"Is this the meaning of Commander Xuanyuan?" Mei Long said, "If the Holy Majesty is here, he may not agree with the proposal of the Governor."

Xuanyuan Shao shook his head and said: "Lord Mei, I will not argue with you. I have already dispatched the people. Wenpu's soldiers and horses will set off in five days at most. If there is any mistake on the way, you and I will be in the Holy Majesty's place by then." It’s hard to explain in front of you.” Glancing at Wei Fan, “Boss Wei, I’ve sent someone to ask you to prepare winter clothes, you shouldn’t forget it!”

Before Wei Fan could speak, Xuanyuan Shao had already turned around and left.

After Xuanyuan Shao left, Mei Long clenched his fist and slammed it on the table fiercely, saying sharply: "What a Xuanyuan Shao, he regards himself as the emperor!"